Anger. Stress. Frustration. Loss. Hopelessness. Intimidation. These are feelings LaCoya LaShawn experienced working in corporate America for 15 years. Having to work in such hostile environments, it’s no wonder she titled her first book, “F*** the Fairytale: My Escape from Corporate America”.
The first line of her book description on Amazon states, “Although the language may seem aggressive it is really an expression of the anger one feels…” If one expletive is all she said after enduring toxic work environments, wrongful terminations, and mistreatment based on gender and race, that’s pretty good.
But I want to talk about the title right quick.
“F*** The Fairytale”
I am certain that many people reading this post were told by adults in their lives that they should get a “good” education and a “good” job with benefits. That was probably true for people in the Baby Boomer generation, but it’s definitely a fairytale for GenXers and beyond. Based on LaCoya’s description, she did what she exceeded expectations by earning several degrees and excelling at her jobs.
But what people didn’t tell her, because they either didn’t know or didn’t share, were the inner workings of corporate America. Especially for Black people. It doesn’t matter how many degrees and certifications they have; how hard they work; or how accomplished they are, there are systems, policies and people in place to attempt to keep people who are not white men in the lower echelons of the economic and social scale.
In this case, I would have to agree with LaCoya: f*** the fairytale.
“My Escape from Corporate America”
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines escape as “to get free of; break away from”. Do you know how bad something must be for someone to want to escape? After finally getting fed up and hitting the invisible barrier at her last company, LaCoya ventured out on her own, became a successful entrepreneur. Authoring her book was a bonus accomplishment.
When you realize that you have purpose, gifts and talents; when you realize you can earn more from natural talents and are worth waaaay more than what you’re earning in a salary; when you overcome fears and gain confidence in yourself, you will look at working for other people differently. When you realize that you don’t have to work in hostile working environments with hidden systems to keep you down and sucky managers and co-workers collaborating to devalue you even though you’re working hard to be great, you accomplish a lot – on your own time and terms.
My Recommendation
I have not yet read this book but it’s on my list of books to read (that’s a separate blog post). I’m sure a lot of people can relate to LaCoya’s experience. Although everyone doesn’t have the courage, desire and financial means to escape to entrepreneurship, LaCoya’s story may inspire others to move out of a less-than-desirable situation. You may even consider putting more time into your hobbies or learning a new skill.
Also, the description says, “The purpose of this book is to encourage you and let you know that you can overcome. This is not just a book it is a movement. A movement that will inspire and bring courage to others to not settle for what is safe but use their gifts to start their business…”
If you share LaCoya’s feelings about corporate America and want to know more about her journey, you can purchase “F*** the Fairytale: My Escape from Corporate America” from Amazon.
How About You?
Do you have stories of toxic work environments or escaping corporate America? Share your story in the comment section below.